T. Coan on Recent Eruption of Mauna Loa. 237 
selves, most conclusive proof, that the luminosity does not reside 
in any substance physically connected with the earth, 
on the whole, whatever difficulties may attend the theory 
which ‘regards the zodiacal light as having its seat in some ap- 
pendage of the sun, there seems to be as yet no other supposition 
possessed of greater plausibility. 
University of Mississippi, Oxford, Oct. 30, 1855. 
Art. XXVIL—On the Recent Eruption of Mauna Loa; by 
Rev. T. Coan.* 
Iris now ninety-seven days since the great valve opened on the 
mountain, and still the volcano works with unabated energy, 
pouring out its floods o in. ceaseless torrents. Long ago 
we had expected to witness the molten sea sweeping over our 
fields, choking our harbor, driving our ships from their moorings 
and our citizens from their homes. But though the igneous flood 
still approaches us, its approach is so slow that our fears are greatly 
allayed. Reasoning mathematically, and assuming that the high 
fountain remain in force, the future terminus of the stream must 
be the Seas; thus it is only a question of time. 
After returning from the mountain, and having rested and at- 
tended to necessary duties, I determined to cut through the jun- 
gle to the lower end of the stream. Several natives had been 
Up and reported the fire as making its way toward us, like the 
dogged and slow approaches of the allies before Sevastopol ; but 
no white man had penetrated the jungle. On the 31st of Octo- 
ber Mr. Ritson, an English gentleman, and myself, with three 
called Wailuku. Up this stream we wended our way with in- 
2] 
~ 
i 
basins and cataracts, slipping, falling, and plunging along, and 
Up the bank and beatin slowly through the wet and entangled 
Jungle, until the obstructions in the stream were passed, and then 
tumbling down again into its tortuous bed. ‘Thus we urged our 
toilsome way under a drenching and continuous rain, at the rate 
of from one half a mile to one or two miles an hour, as obsta- 
Cles were more or less serious. 
ee 
. * From a letter to Rev.C.S. L dated Hilo, Nov. 16, 1855. This account 
#10 continuation of that Published in the last number, page 139. Wi 
